Target opens doors: U.S. retailer a hit for some early-bird shoppers, a disappointment for others

Tiffany Crawford, Vancouver Sun08.23.2013

Sher Boudreau from Pitt Meadows was one of the first shoppers at the new Target store that opened Tuesday at Coquitlam Centre.Jason Payne
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Sher Boudreau from Pitt Meadows was one of the first shoppers at the new Target store that opened Tuesday at Coquitlam Centre.Jason Payne
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Gene Peteski and his wife were among the first shoppers at the new Target store that opened Tuesday at Coquitlam Centre.Jason Payne
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The new Target store at Coquitlam Centre opened on Tuesday.Jason Payne
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Shoppers at the new Target store which opened Tuesday at Coquitlam Centre.Jason Payne
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Shoppers at the new Target store which opened Tuesday at Coquitlam Centre.Jason Payne
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Fanina Lee stocks the shelves, May 6th, of the new Target store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
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Fanina Lee stocks the shelves, Monday, of the new Target store in Coquitlam that opens today. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada, including nine in B.C.Ward Perrin, PNG
/ Vancouver Sun

The shelves are stocked and ready, May 6th, at the new Target store in Coquitlam which opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
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Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

The shelves are stocked and ready, May 6th, at the new Target store in Coquitlam which opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

COQUITLAM, B.C. : MAY 06, 2013 - Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
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Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada. (Ward Perrin/PNG) (For story by NEWS/Vancouver Sun NEWS/The Province) 00020793AWard Perrin
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Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher takes the media on a tour, May 6th, of the new store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Target Canada president Tony Fisher shows off the store at Coquitlam Centre mall to reporters on Monday. The store is one of nine B.C. locations to open Tuesday.Ward Perrin
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Fanina Lee stocks the shelves, May 6th, of the new Target store in Coquitlam that opens on Tuesday. Target is opening 24 stores in Western Canada.Ward Perrin
/ PNG

Dozens of eager shoppers lined up this morning, some as early as 5:30 a.m., hoping to get their hands on some cheap goods at the new Target at Coquitlam Centre.While some consumers were pleased with the cherry-picked deals they found, others were disappointed by the lack of bargain-barrel prices they had expected.The Coquitlam Target was one of nine that opened in B.C. Tuesday, along with stores in North Delta, Langley, Victoria, Kamloops, Vernon, Campbell River, Cranbrook and Nanaimo.Sitting on one of the large red Target balls outside the American mega-chain's outlet, Pitt Meadows resident Sher Boudreau tweeted about her Target experience."I'm tweeting that I shopped 'till I dropped and I loved it," she said, with a nod to a cart stuffed full of shopping bags."I heard a lot of people say they couldn't find deals but I guess they just didn't know what to look for," she said. Boudreau, who was second in line to get in the store when it opened at 8 a.m., said prices were not as low as in the U.S., but there were deals to be found, particularly on kids' clothes.A three-pack of Canucks onesies for her four-year-old nephew cost around $20, she said, adding that she saw a Canucks jersey for $30."I don't care where you are from, that's a good deal for Canucks clothes."Having shopped south of the border, Boudreau is hoping Target will start some "flyer wars" like it does in the U.S. with other retailers such as Walmart, and bring prices even lower.Boudreau also noted that she found a pair of shoes for $20 and razor blades for $5 cheaper than at Walmart.Not all the shoppers Tuesday were as enthusiastic.Local bargain hunter Gene Peteski, out shopping with his wife, said there were a few deals but that he thought "it was nothing special."The Coquitlam resident, who drives out to Mission for cheaper gas, said he'll be watching closely for Target to announce lower prices on food, but for now he thinks it's more economical to shop at the Real Canadian Superstore.Target president Tony Fisher has said Target will match prices when consumers can demonstrate that prices are lower elsewhere.When Target opened five stores in Ontario in March, consumers were not impressed to find out that the prices were higher than Target's U.S. prices, and in some cases higher than Walmart, Postmedia reported.ticrawford@vancouversun.com

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Target opens doors: U.S. retailer a hit for some early-bird shoppers, a disappointment for others

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